Engineering Manager, Propulsion Development and Test

trueanomalyinc; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

True Anomaly is seeking a Propulsion Development and Test Manager in Colorado to own strategy, execution, and leadership of our propulsion development program.

You will guide a team of propulsion engineers, define requirements, and execute propulsion test campaigns across the portfolio, driving design trades and safety-focused decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering.
• 10+ years propulsion/fluids engineering in aerospace/defense, with 3+ years in people leadership.
• Led propulsion test campaigns (hot-fire, cold-flow, pressure tests).
• Hands-on propulsion or fluid system design, analysis, or test.
• Experience with hypergolic propellant systems and safety/regulatory standards.
• Able to manage multiple workstreams, schedules, and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and develop propulsion development engineers to deliver prototype hardware on aggressive schedules.
• Align propulsion demand with team capabilities; collaborate on strategy, schedules, and roadmaps.
• Set clear expectations, provide feedback, conduct performance reviews, and develop growth plans.
• Foster a culture of technical rigor, safety, accountability, and ownership.
• Address blockers, resource conflicts, and cross-functional issues affecting the team.
• Oversee hardware test planning and execution, including system-level tests, procurement oversight, and safety compliance.

Skills

Team leadership

Propulsion development

Test campaign execution

Hypergolic propellants

Regulatory compliance

Requirements writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors - enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.

What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.

It's the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

As Propulsion Development and Test Manager at True Anomaly, you will own the strategy, execution, and lead the people behind our propulsion development program. You will have the opportunity to build from the ground up. You will directly lead a team of propulsion development engineers responsible for defining our development requirements and completing trades on design options, maturing our propulsion capabilities and executing propulsion development test campaigns across our True Anomaly's propulsion portfolio. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who is equally comfortable jumping in and analyzing and driving technical decisions as they are developing and managing the people doing that work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leadership & People Management

• Directly supervise, including hiring and developing a team of propulsion development engineers, capable of writing requirements, designing, analyzing, testing and delivering prototype hardware on aggressive schedules.
• Align an influx of propulsion development demand with the capabilities, resources and schedules of your team. Collaborate on strategy, schedule commitments and roadmaps to develop propulsion capabilities and deliver product.
• Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, conduct performance reviews, and create development plans that grow each team member's technical skills and career.
• Foster a team culture grounded in technical rigor, safety, accountability, and ownership.
• Address and resolve technical blockers, resource conflicts, and cross‑functional issues affecting your team.

Propulsion development products

• Build and execute a roadmap to evaluate our propulsion systems at component and system level. Spearhead plans to test early and often, buy down risk with smaller tests. Establish system level tests starting with commercial off the shelf GSE hardware, then swap parts out for more representative flight hardware, increasing fidelity over time.
• Integrate that propulsion test planning with a facility and GSE capability plan. What test capabilities are needed when? What practical limitations of test capability constrain the testing roadmaps.
• Provide technical oversight and approval authority for infrastructure trade studies; ensure trade study conclusions are well‑supported and aligned with program needs and budget.
• Review and approve P&IDs, fabrication drawings, material selections, and vendor proposals for test stand hardware.
• Champion safety. Ensure hazard analyses, propellant handling procedures, and regulatory coordination activities are properly resourced and executed.
• Drive resolution of facility design and construction issues, interfacing with civil, mechanical, electrical, and safety teams as needed.
• Serve as a management‑level champion for safety in all aspects of design and operations. Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and permitting. Ensure hypergolic system designs comply with applicable OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and DoD standards.
• Oversee hardware procurement, fabrication oversight, installation, and commissioning activities; resolve nonconformances and design anomalies that require management or cross‑functional engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering.
• 10+ years of professional experience in propulsion and fluid systems engineering for aerospace, launch vehicle, or defense applications, with at least 3 years in a direct people management or influential leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team through the development and execution of propulsion test campaigns, including hot‑fire, cold‑flow, and pressure testing.
• Hands‑on background in propulsion or fluid system design, analysis, or test.
• Experience with hypergolic propellant systems, hazardous fluid operations, or high‑pressure propulsion ground systems, including familiarity with applicable safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, track schedule and budget performance, and surface risks proactively.
• Proven track record of building cohesive technical teams and developing individual contributors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical status and recommendations clearly to senior